Houseboating is a great way to enjoy water's soothing calm
and its potential for fun. These floating hotel suites are perfect
for novice boaters, too--one reason the number of people renting
houseboats is increasing annually. After the five-hour pre-boarding
course that rental agencies offer, even landlubbers would have
trouble running the boat ashore.

As the boat leisurely traverses the lake's shoreline, you
anchor in coves along the way. You can dive into the water, hike on
shore, water-ski off a roundabout usually in tow and loll on the
sun deck. And because houseboats sleep up to 12 comfortably,
they're perfect for families vacationing together.

"There's always something new to discover among the
incredible canyons of Lake Powell," says David Archibald,
editor of Houseboat magazine, of Arizona and Utah's huge
sandy-shored, manmade lake framed with soaring red cliffs. The
richness of foliage surrounding Lake Cumberland in Kentucky makes
it another favorite houseboating spot. "But the trip up the
Florida Keys," says Archibald, "that's really
spectacular."

Expect to spend $1,200 to $1,400 for four days on a fully
equipped boat for eight to 10. Houseboat's annual
renter's guide ($5) describes houseboating lakes and waterways
in the United States and Canada plus rental companies to contact.
Call (800) 630-0135.

Body Buddy

Not just for movie stars anymore, personal trainers are helping
a growing number of entrepreneurs meet their fitness goals. Whether
you're seeking aerobic benefits and strength training or
looking to recover from an injury, a personal trainer can help you
fit a tailor-made routine into your schedule.

"People just haven't the time to go to a gym,"
says April Underwood (far right), an American Council on
Exercise (ACE)-certified trainer in Santa Monica, California, who
works with clients either in their homes or in her own small
gym.

Motivation is another benefit of using personal trainers. People
who hate exercise often need the personal nudge. Some people want
constant supervision and see a trainer two to three times a week;
others prefer a once-a-month session to update workouts and get
feedback on progress.

No national certification exists (though certification from ACE
and the American College of Sports Medicine are highly regarded),
so much of the search for a personal trainer is through
word-of-mouth. Among the most important things to consider are:

1. The trainer's experience with people who have similar
goals

2. The trainer's ability to create an interesting exercise
program based on your fitness evaluation results, goals and
personal preferences--and the willingness to modify it as
needed

3. How closely you're supervised during the workout

4. How comfortable you are with the person

Its Your Call

Car phones are stretching the day's business into the
commute. Appointments are set, family concerns are talked out, and
deals are done.

Is it safe to mix talking and driving? A recent study by
Canadian scientists concludes the risk of an accident increased
fourfold when drivers were talking on the phone. While it's
unlikely people will give up their car phones, the study points up
the need to use care and common sense when making calls from your
car. Here are some tips to make car phones safer:

1. Dial only when it's safe to take your eyes off the road
for a second, and preprogram frequently called numbers.

2. Buy a hands-free phone.

3. Keep calls short and light.

4. If you're even slightly concerned that using the phone
may distract you, pull over to make the call.